They Said What? Zorn and Campbell Talk OTA's

Site Staff

05/07/2009

See what coach Jim Zorn and Quarterback Jason Campbell had to say after the OTAs concluded.

Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn

On young players solidifying their positions:

"Well, I don't think they solidified their position. A lot of guys are already here. They're working and trying to work with their teammate next to them, or with the quarterback, or with the defense in whatever way they can to get the concepts down, to get the first feel of speed, agility, and offense, defense, and special teams. But I don't think anybody is here 'making' the team. The younger guys are trying to impress. There were a couple of guys out there this week that know that they have to impress to make the team, and they're working hard to do that."

"Malcolm has come on. I think each day he's done a little bit more. So he's showed that he's bursting off the line of scrimmage now. We're keeping him from doing some of the extended routes and things like that, but some of the quicker things - the quick cuts, the little accelerations - he's doing, and he's catching a ton of balls. So as he progresses, I think he'll be much more ready for those [June] OTAs like we're hoping."

"I really like the position that Jason's getting himself in. He's making much better decisions because he knows the offense; he's not just learning the offense. And then we're putting him through the paces of working on his release, getting those releases efficient. As quick as we can get that ball out, he's getting it out. And he was very accurate this week. Pretty impressive, some of the things that he did. But ball speed and accuracy, you can't put a premium on that, and, he was good."

"It's an interesting thing because Colt is progressing, and one of the things that's happening with Colt is that he's hearing some of the things talked about, and then he's thinking about those things. I walked up when he was on the line of scrimmage, and I said, 'Listen, we're talking about all this technique and all the mechanics of this stuff, but eventually you've just got to play. You've just got to drop back and play.' We're not trying to create 'I look down on my first step, I rock back on this or that,' it's all about knowing those things and him just doing them naturally, and that's what we're trying to get to. So he's got a ways to go, but he's progressing very fine and this is a step up for him, because he didn't even get to practice last year at this time."

On the right tackle position:

"It's still open, and we're still trying to work Mike Williams in, we've got Stephon Heyer working in there, [Jeremy] Bridges is going to be working in there now. We've got some candidates, but that position probably won't be solidified until we do work through training camp, we get these guys into games, and we find that chemistry and that combination."

"Jon's been great, because Jon's worked at right tackle, he's worked at guard, and he's helping us at center. To be honest with you, he's doing a great job at center, communicating with the guards and getting people in the right place. You know, center's a very communicative position, and he's doing a great job with that. The quarterbacks like him because his butt's so tall, they can just stand up and look at things. They don't have to squat down."

On who might be this year's breakout star similar to safety Chris Horton:

"We haven't gotten to that point yet, and I don't think we even knew it with [Chris] Horton last year until we even got him into preseason games because these guys have a lot of work to do. Our young guys have a ton of work to do before they come out of any woodwork to surprise anybody. I think the guys that we chose, and the guys that are here that are new, they all have that same attitude as he had when he came in - just workmanship, learning from the vets, and then going hard."

On the possibility of adding more players:

"It'll just be minor. These things will just be minor now. We've got the greater nucleus of what we're going to go into camp with, so the changes we do make will be because somebody else became available, or just a minor adjustment with personnel."

"The thing that I see with [Dominique] Dorsey, he's very comfortable catching punts and kickoffs and things like that. He runs low to the ground, and I think it's going to be hard to take him down. He was very explosive. I think when he gets into the open field, he's going to be able to shake and not get stopped by the first tackler. I think he's going to be able to beat a safety or a linebacker, we've just got to get him into that situation. I don't know how it's all going to work out with him now, or how much time he'll get, but he's in the mix."

On the accomplishments of the first week of OTAs:

"One of the things we tried to do a little bit differently is work drills. So we had the quarterbacks throwing to linebackers, throwing to DBs, trying to get their hands a little more quarterback ball-speed oriented. We did this with the receivers, the running backs, and the tight ends. So we kind of slowed things down, and then we worked on techniques - coming in and out of breaks, how to get your weight over your body, just real fundamental things, instead of just running a bunch of plays. I think the thing that we did have this year over last year is that the majority of the guys knew what to do both offensively, defensively and on special teams. We're further ahead."

On the potential of the receiving corps:

"I think that's kind of the negative, we have the 'potential.' We've got some young guys, but they haven't really played yet. What we're hoping, is that the potential becomes a reality to what we think they're going to be. I'll tell you this, they have the attitude of want-to, and that's part of the battle, and they're also working hard to get it all down, listening to their coach, Stan Hixon, so that they can be in the right place at the right speed with the right cut and then finish it with the catch, and hopefully we'll get some yards after catch as well. So all those things will be put together, but right now you're right, it's just potential. That's kind of the sad thing about it."

"He also did a really nice job at the running back position this week. His hands were great, he had a great attitude, and the thing that I love about this guy is he understands that there's a role that each one of these guys has to take and he's done a great job with that. He's coaching out there now. He's been at this for so long, he's doing things that create coaching opportunities for himself, and yet he can do it athletically as well. I don't think he's going to be a receiver at the wideout position for us, though."

Redskins Quarterback Jason Campbell

On the potential of receiving corps:

"A lot of it is going to depend on how well our young guys help us during the season. Santana is always going to draw attention. Randle El is a guy that is a veteran and we're going to move him around a bit from inside and outside. Everyone knows that Cooley draws attention. I think that two guys who can really help us are Devin [Thomas] and Malcolm [Kelly]. Right now I know Devin is looking really well running routes, he has really matured a lot. Malcolm is doing the best he can right now to get back for June OTAs. The one thing about Malcolm is when he is on the field the guy has great hands, everything he catches he catches with his hands. He can reach out and catch the ball and snatch it, so his abilities are there also. We are feeling positive about those two guys coming into the season. I definitely feel that they can be a lot of help to us."

The possible weapons the team could have if everyone is healthy:

"Exactly, that is the most important part. Even with some of the lineman we got here that we brought in with [Derrick] Dockery, and [Jeremy] Bridges, and Mike [Williams]. As much as they continue working that helps us out as far as that core group, and also add depth in those positions. Were trying to do a lot of things we can this offseason to make sure when season comes that we are ready to rock and roll. Like I said the most important part is everyone being healthy, if we all can stay healthy who knows what can happen for us."

On talking with other quarterbacks in the league and taking the next step as a leader:

"You kind of grow into it on your own. There are guys I talked to over the years, and any one of them will tell you that you mature into it and grow into it on your own. I feel like I am at that point now where I can take over a huddle or take over everything. A lot of it has to do with experience, a lot of it has to do with being in the same system. Now you have a better idea on what you're doing, and a lot of it has to do with now you just feel natural and comfortable with everyone around. I talk to Doug Williams we continue to communicate now. I see Warren Moon. I go out to Seattle sometimes, he has a golf tournament. Those are just guys you always communicate with and you always see. Just here lately, I got a chance to meet Jim Kelley and talk to him. So there are always experienced and veteran guys that you always look for and ask them what was their personal experience like when they first got to the league. And yea; Coach Zorn."

On Brett Farve coming back:

"I'm not surprised at all. He is a competitor. Sometimes I guess he gets that itch, maybe the wife is making him do a lot of choirs or something, and he figured it's best to get back into football. I don't know."

On confidence in the offensive line:

"I am very confident at this standpoint. A lot of it has to do with because last year they were thinking just as well as playing also. They were in the same position as myself, receivers, and running backs because we were all in a new system. Now with them having the opportunity to be in the system for a year now and understand the different protection calls and the communication amongst the line, amongst each other, I think is very important. That is one thing you can't teach is experience in something, and I think that is what we got this time this year compared to where we were last year."